Security News > 2021 > February > Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter Target Resellers of Hacked Accounts
Facebook told KrebsOnSecurity it seized hundreds of accounts - mainly on Instagram - that have been stolen from legitimate users through a variety of intimidation and harassment tactics, including hacking, coercion, extortion, sextortion, SIM swapping, and swatting.
THE MIDDLEMEN. Facebook said it targeted a number of accounts tied to key sellers on OGUsers, as well as those who advertise the ability to broker stolen account sales.
Reached for comment, Twitter confirmed that it worked in tandem with Facebook to seize accounts tied to top members of OGUsers, citing its platform manipulation and spam policy.
TikTok confirmed it also took action to target accounts tied to top OGUusers members, although it declined to say how many accounts were reclaimed.
"As part of our ongoing work to find and stop inauthentic behavior, we recently reclaimed a number of TikTok usernames that were being used for account squatting," TikTok said in a written statement.
Among the top seller accounts targeted in the ban wave was the Instagram account belonging to Ryan Zanelli, a 22-year-old self-described "Social media marketing specialist" from Melbourne, Australia.